Engine or box

[Mad4slalom]

Hi all , have got to bite the bullet and get on with sorting out my stray bolt that has come from somewhere inside my bellhousing.
most likely we are thinking the mainshaft bearing and seal housing.
question is , engine or box out?
the previous owner says easier to remove motor. if someone takes a corvette to a garage to have a new clutch fitted would they really pull the motor?.
Anyone had this job done by a garage or done it themselves?
72 coupe 350 4/ speed.
engine out i guess is hood off radiator and support off, anything else major?
Gearbox out would be propshaft, exhaust, some interior to get to shifter etc what do folk on here suggest?
anyone have an idea what one of the specialist corvette workshops might charge . Will fit a new clutch when out , any recommendations as to which kit to use , have seen some for as little as 100 quid.

 

[Roscobbc]

'Pulling' the engine if you have a crane with sufficient 'reach' can be done from the front of the car - beware of complete removeal of radiator support - it may not go back quite so easy. Gearbox 'out' may be a more logical option - its something that can be done under cover in your garage if you can get the car high enough to safely side underneath.

 

[Mad4slalom]

'Pulling' the engine if you have a crane with sufficient 'reach' can be done from the front of the car - beware of complete removeal of radiator support - it may be go back quite so easy. Gearbox 'out' may be a more logical option - its something that can be done under cover in your garage if you can get the car high enough to safely side underneath.

I have this rossco , will have to watch some gearbox out videos and get everything i need together.

 

[Oneball]

You don’t need to take the core support out to remove the engine. But if you’ve got that ramp thing it’s probably easier to just take the box out.

 

[Chuffer]

I really don`t envy you all this work Mad4 , hope you are soon sorted and can actually start to enjoy driving it before the summers gone .

 

[Mad4slalom]

You don’t need to take the core support out to remove the engine. But if you’ve got that ramp thing it’s probably easier to just take the box out.

Once i get a plan and start it then it wont be so bad. I mean , how many vettes have had a clutch? Feeling positive.

 

[Mad4slalom]

I really don`t envy you all this work Mad4 , hope you are soon sorted and can actually start to enjoy driving it before the summers gone .

Thanks chuffer, washed and waxed her yrsterday sounding lovely with no nasty noises now. Trimmed the inspection plate down so i can fit and temove without pulling starter motor. Wanted to put it back just for starting and moving in and out of the garage as the spinning flywheel was blowing the drip of oil around underneath the car.
A bit frustrating as nothing wrong with the car except for the dropped out bolt and related oil leak. Just need to be sure if it is the mainshaft bearing carrier bolt or clutch cover, it doesnt have a shoulder as someone posted the clutch bolts have so we think most prob the carrier bolt. Once i get an endescope in to confirm, then i will order new shaft bearing , seal and bolts and a clutch. Car still really clean underneath as only 4k since body off 6 years ago so things should all undo pretty easily. And a good chance to check all visible nuts and bolts for security. . Lots of G7 air activity locally at the mo as only6 miles from st mawgan.
where the big us air force jets delivered the potus’s helicopter last week. Load of restrictions later this week in cornwall

 

[Mad4slalom]

Thanks chuffer, washed and waxed her yrsterday sounding lovely with no nasty noises now. Trimmed the inspection plate down so i can fit and temove without pulling starter motor. Wanted to put it back just for starting and moving in and out of the garage as the spinning flywheel was blowing the drip of oil around underneath the car.
A bit frustrating as nothing wrong with the car except for the dropped out bolt and related oil leak. Just need to be sure if it is the mainshaft bearing carrier bolt or clutch cover, it doesnt have a shoulder as someone posted the clutch bolts have so we think most prob the carrier bolt. Once i get an endescope in to confirm, then i will order new shaft bearing , seal and bolts and a clutch. Car still really clean underneath as only 4k since body off 6 years ago so things should all undo pretty easily. And a good chance to check all visible nuts and bolts for security. . Lots of G7 air activity locally at the mo as only6 miles from st mawgan.
where the big us air force jets delivered the potus’s helicopter last week. Load of restrictions later this week in cornwall

Thinking of the amount of work and scary repairs Tim P is coping with on his restoratio , then my issues are pretty trivial really.

 

[Oneball]

Once i get a plan and start it then it wont be so bad. I mean , how many vettes have had a clutch? Feeling positive.

Check how you can get to all four nuts to undo the output from the prop shaft without jacking the rear up and turning it.

@turbojet has done the box with it on axle stands iirc.

 

[Oneball]

If it’s the box bolt you’ll need the two bolt lock tabs as well.

 

[Roscobbc]

If you disconnect the exhausts, clutch 'Z' bar assembly and (supporting gearbox) remove all the bracketing holding the gearbox mount in place you should be able to lower the rear of the engine down sufficient to get easier access to gearbox/bellhousing bolts and bellhousing to block bolts. Being a small block you may not need to loosen off front engine mounts. Be carefull when lowering engine that nothing hits the radiator - may be wise to remove?

 

[Mad4slalom]

If you disconnect the exhausts, clutch 'Z' bar assembly and (supporting gearbox) remove all the bracketing holding the gearbox mount in place you should be able to lower the rear of the engine down sufficient to get easier access to gearbox/bellhousing bolts and bellhousing to block bolts. Being a small block you may not need to loosen off front engine mounts. Be carefull when lowering engine that nothing hits the radiator - may be wise to remove?

Thanks rosscob, any little bits of advice very appreciated.

 

[Mad4slalom]

Thanks rosscob, any little bits of advice very appreciated.

Does the box come out with bell housing attached then ?

 

[Chuffer]

Thanks chuffer, washed and waxed her yrsterday sounding lovely with no nasty noises now. Trimmed the inspection plate down so i can fit and temove without pulling starter motor. Wanted to put it back just for starting and moving in and out of the garage as the spinning flywheel was blowing the drip of oil around underneath the car.
A bit frustrating as nothing wrong with the car except for the dropped out bolt and related oil leak. Just need to be sure if it is the mainshaft bearing carrier bolt or clutch cover, it doesnt have a shoulder as someone posted the clutch bolts have so we think most prob the carrier bolt. Once i get an endescope in to confirm, then i will order new shaft bearing , seal and bolts and a clutch. Car still really clean underneath as only 4k since body off 6 years ago so things should all undo pretty easily. And a good chance to check all visible nuts and bolts for security. . Lots of G7 air activity locally at the mo as only6 miles from st mawgan.
where the big us air force jets delivered the potus’s helicopter last week. Load of restrictions later this week in cornwall

Very frustrating I am sure but hopefully an easy fix . Sure would be a good idea to check the tightness of all other bolts you come across whilst working on it . Casual chats with other owners at recent car meets has shown that it is quite common on recently restored cars or ones so called `prepped` for sale .
Hope all the G7 lot have bogged off by end of the month as I am sailing out of Newlyn on the 27th June on this beauty around the Scillies for a week . Providing Barmy Boris doesn`t clamp us all down again !

 

[James Vette]

Do you want me to come down and help?

 

[Mad4slalom]

Do you want me to come down and help?

Thanks for the offer james, my nee workshop is behind schedule so have to send this somewhere to be done, hopefully with me assisting. Hard to find someone locally with vette experience .

 

[Mad4slalom]

Do you want me to come down and help?

Hey james , just looking at the membership page of the new magazine, are you in st austell or is that another “still looking “ james ?

 

[Roscobbc]

Does the box come out with bell housing attached then ?

Either way - your choice

 

[Corvette]

I’ve done it the hard way and learnt the easy way. Disconnect the obvious, plan on leaving the bellhousing where it is for now, remove the four gearbox to bellhousing bolts, the box maybe A bit corroded to bellhousing a bit like alloy wheel to hub, the easy way is to pull box back and twist it anti clockwise 45degrees, the reason for turning gearbox is so it can fit going backwards where the gearbox mount is on crossmember. Once back as far as it will wiggle if the input shaft can’t quite get out of bellhousing then tilt engine down at rear and out she comes.

 

[Mad4slalom]

I’ve done it the hard way and learnt the easy way. Disconnect the obvious, plan on leaving the bellhousing where it is for now, remove the four gearbox to bellhousing bolts, the box maybe A bit corroded to bellhousing a bit like alloy wheel to hub, the easy way is to pull box back and twist it anti clockwise 45degrees, the reason for turning gearbox is so it can fit going backwards where the gearbox mount is on crossmember. Once back as far as it will wiggle if the input shaft can’t quite get out of bellhousing then tilt engine down at rear and out she comes.

Thank you for that info